Consumercy

Infect!

Question. "Do you prefer planned but rigid schedules or untimed but flexible ones?"

Schedules have a binding factor to them. Deadlines, goals, meetings, contracts, audits all follow that predictible pattern. But then these are quintessential when we are talking commitments. Commitments demand rigid schedules. You have to take out the garbage, rake the lawn, do the dishes as per a plan, well into a marriage. It's mutually understood, accepted, expected.

Luring is different. Luring or rather sales or prospecting whatever you may call it, is about flexibility, unpredictibility, untimeliness.  Patterns don't work. Which is understandable, for  here you are dealing with someone you don't yet know. Someone who you can't typecast into set paradigms. Thus you ought to infect! And that has to happen without their knowledge. Suddenly! Maroon Orchids on a snowy day are more like it when you are prospecting your date.

Do you remember when or how you were infected wih Google? That's how it should be. that's how it works.

Unfine Gestures

here's what i as a consumer don't dig.

1. Pressy sales guys n gals. ones who leave no space for you to make a neat exit or an instance to not pipe in comments even as you feel the hem of the garment or the print of a book or bend down to tie your laces. Hollister Co., Forever 21
2. No sales reps around. Kaufmann's. Personalised shopping to the extent that you are left foraging amid the zillion aisles all by yourself.
3. Sales reps who just walk by knowing for sure that you need them. Yeah, you can make out when that happens just as he or she does who pulls one on you. DSW.
4. Sales reps who fast-insist, fast-type, fast-gibe. Ones who are waiting for you to go off guard, stutter a yes by mistake for 'em to bill it in real time. And dare you try to cancel the order. Mc DONALDS. Fries? coke? extra chesse? Mc nuggets? the questions darting from a stern face at rapid pace. Makes ya feel like commiting felony if you carry that tray away without the add-on's.
5. No international/US socket adapter to plug in my Laptop at star hotels.  Where to buy one? well, the concierge can do anything but help. Holiday Inn Martinique, Broadway.
6. Repetitive & loopy waitover tunes when you are on hold while the customer care agents are deciding what to do with you on the other side of the line.
7. Economy seats of Delta which are so much worse than that of Greyhound shuttles.
8. $3 for a trolley at the Airport!!!where else on earth is that?
9. Store owner yelling at an employee in my presence.
10. Sales reps who aren't well briefed at what they are selling. The ones who ain't  got a clue on what are the ingredients of a particular dish, or the features/interfaces of a particular ware.
11. The waiters who won't accept a fly in my soup is a fly in my soup until the manager says so. Olive Garden, Syracuse. Also, where they are instructed perhaps to sell food to push Principato wines.

judiciously opinioned?

Well. I've arrived. My first U.S consultation work. And probably one in a long time to come, got me chewing on lotsa brands I'd read and heard at length... to the point where I felt no alien visiting 'em. Starbucks, Walmart, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Dean and Delucha et'al.

The thing about brands is that they simply tweedle you to be a part of the campaign. A part of a rally. From the 'Save Catholic Schools' to 'Tsunami Relief Donations' every person wants to be a part of the news, the bigger picture. Why, it's even swanky to hate Microsoft and Walmart and praise Firefox. I know quite a few people who downloaded it so that they could say they use it. Many are clueless on what accounts it is better. In fact as a consumer it IS hard to tell which is better than what and why you prefer one over the other. Oft than not it's purely  incognitive.

Of the lot I like Walmart. It sure is crazily cheap! That i love. And what that does to women and immigrants and communities and China, condemn I do. That too,i Love. What do I care, as long as it's the apt (right or not i don't care) thing to do. As a consumer I'am opinionated, that first and everything i opine on, second. It's the official branding bromide of the century anyway.

Talking of opinions, was wanting to read on this a longtime. Finally did. Would you believe it? Dunno. Would you care to comment? What the heck,there's no harm commenting without knowing. be it the good or the bad.

My Coffee Blog-ad

Office mornings are seldom good mornings. Mondays especially. Rarer are they comprehensible mornings. This particular stuff works. All addictions do. But this one's better on aroma.

"The doors slide open. Guy steps in. And into pell-mell. Everything just too fast for him to comprehend. People darting about. The chatter  an incessant fuddle. Files  on his desk doubling up crazily. Boss uttering some mumbo-jumbo bantu talk, that he can barely make out. Huffed out already, he walks over to the vending machine. Pours himself a cup. Sips. Turns back and everything is back to normal pace. Relieved is he"

Coffee makes work so much cognizable. And relativity too.

how many changes will you allow?

Yes, they say the customer's wish stands final. It depends, I say. Sometimes as a consumer I like to run away from choices, decisions and benevolent offers to customize. Consumers are oft sceptical about first time purchases, first time visits, first time foods. The last thing they want is being thrusted with the decision to 'make to order' about something they rather have a specialist decide on their behalf. Frequently have I noticed consumers letting the traders, sellers, experts, waiters choose what's best for 'em, especially if it's unfamiliar territory. Ever wonder why movie-music-automobile-restaurant-holiday destination-and so many more reviews are searched by the millions,why consultants are beckoned to streamline internal processes...because it's safer to ask the people who know it best.

Point. Be rest assured, no matter which business you are in, your advice shall be taken for a buy. Your best is to give GENUINE ADVICE. Contrary to the belief, your consumer is unaware and shall remain so always to the point where he has to seek your help on a choice. Make sure you give the right one even if it hits your sale and be rest assured you are opening doors for many more walk in's.

But here again. To what extent will you let your customer tinker(customize)  your product. Till the point where the very sanctity of your product is lost? I have seen many a people across the table spoil their soup and chow by trying to customize taste by themselves. Imagine a restaurant that takes complete details of your tastes when it takes your order. Done that it does'nt let it's customers play with it no more. No pepper, jelepenos, salt or vinegar on your table. " We assure you sir, this is the best it can taste". Ask me, i would give it a ten.    

Signs!

I cut the line half way through a conference call today. No, that wasn't exactly what i intended to do, discounting my want though. But that isn't the point. The point is why did it happen? Well, with this particular Ericsson equipment I simply mistook the 'End' button(or whatever button it was) to be the mute button(exclamation). I swear it had a 'speaker' symbol on it(double exclamation).

Note. It's extremely important that you put images, symbols, logos that are not misunderstood across continents and cultures if your target market is as big. In case of Ericsson I believe it is. So what explains the abstruse pict? Nothing does for a cut call. Not to a prospect. Not when one's paying for a dedicated call line.

Why could'nt they put a universal mute sign like the one above, rather the 'Opel'ish one.

By the way, the sign of the speaker meant 'Conferencing'. Come to think of it, I was already on that.